D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky — Pre-1925 Sealed Bottle, Edinburgh, c. 1911–1920 (High Fill)
CHF 780.00
Title
D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky — Pre-1925 Sealed Bottle, Edinburgh, c. 1911–1920 (High Fill)
Teaser
A rare early sealed bottle of D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled in Edinburgh c. 1911–1920. Predates the company's incorporation as a Limited company in 1925, predates the introduction of the famous "Highland warrior" pictorial label, and predates the firm's 1937 absorption into the Distillers Company Limited. Original wax-and-foil capsule intact; exceptional fill level with only a few millimetres of evaporation loss over more than a century.
Description
An early sealed bottle of D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled in Edinburgh by one of Scotland's most historic blenders. The label, capsule and overall presentation date this bottle to the brand's earliest commercial period, c. 1911 to early 1920s — predating the company's incorporation as D. and J. McCallum Limited in 1925, predating the introduction of the famous "Highland warrior" pictorial label, and predating the firm's 1937 absorption into the Distillers Company Limited (later Diageo).
Brand history. Brothers Duncan and John McCallum opened their inn — known as "The Tattie Pit" — in Edinburgh in 1807. The business grew from inn to spirit merchant, and in 1911 the firm released its now-legendary "Perfection" blend, said to be built around malt from the Cragganmore distillery in Speyside. The brand became hugely popular in Australia and remained in production through the 20th century. The original Edinburgh premises were destroyed in a 1916 German airship bombing raid on Leith.
Dating evidence. The bottle is dated by a combination of label and packaging details. The label reads "D. & J. McCALLUM" without any "Ltd" or "Limited" suffix; the company was incorporated as a Limited company in 1925, after which all labels carry the suffix. This bottle therefore predates 1925. The "Perfection" brand was launched in 1911, so the bottle is post-1911. The label is plain text-only, without the iconic "warlike clan chief with claymore and shield" pictorial trademark that became the brand's hallmark from the 1920s onward. Three offices are listed — Edinburgh, Birmingham & London — and the Sydney office came later. There is no volume or ABV statement on the label (these became mandatory in the UK only from the 1980 Weights & Measures Act). The closure is an original wax-and-foil capsule over a driven cork, typical of pre-1950s Scotch bottling. Together these details point to a bottling between 1911 and approximately 1924, most probably in the 1911 to c.1920 window.
Condition. Dark glass bottle of traditional cylindrical Scotch form. The original wax-and-foil capsule is intact over the driven cork, and the bottle has never been opened. Fill level is exceptional for the age: only a few millimetres of evaporation loss ("the angels' share") over more than a century — clear evidence that the original seal has held effectively without compromise. The paper label is largely complete and clearly legible — "PRODUCE OF SCOTLAND. / D. & J. McCALLUM. / Perfection / EDINBURGH. BIRMINGHAM & LONDON. / BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY." — with an area of paper loss to the left edge characteristic of long storage. No chips or cracks to the glass. Sold as a collector's item; we make no guarantee as to the taste of the liquid contents, which after a century in glass may show oxidation, cork influence or sediment, as is normal for whisky of this age — though the high fill level and intact capsule are the best possible indicators that the contents have been spared the most damaging effects of evaporation and air ingress.
Significance. Pre-1925 sealed bottles of named Scottish blended whisky are scarce. Most surviving early-20th-century examples of "Perfection" on the market are post-1937 (post-DCL acquisition) or miniatures. A full-size, sealed, high-fill bottle from the brand's first decade — with its original wax capsule, original cork seal essentially intact, and largely complete label — sits in a different and considerably more collectible category, of interest to whisky historians, Scottish memorabilia collectors and breweriana / spirituosa specialists.
Dimensions and fill: height __ cm (to be measured); estimated capacity likely Imperial pint or "Reputed Quart" (26⅔ fl oz); fill level high, with only a few millimetres of evaporation loss; weight __ g.
Important notice. This item is sold as a sealed historical collector's bottle, not as a beverage for consumption. The buyer must be of legal drinking age in their country of residence and accepts that the contents of antique sealed bottles cannot be guaranteed for taste, safety or potability. Cross-border shipping of alcoholic bottles is subject to the laws and customs regulations of the destination country; the buyer is responsible for ensuring import is permitted at the destination address.
D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky — Pre-1925 Sealed Bottle, Edinburgh, c. 1911–1920 (High Fill)
Teaser
A rare early sealed bottle of D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled in Edinburgh c. 1911–1920. Predates the company's incorporation as a Limited company in 1925, predates the introduction of the famous "Highland warrior" pictorial label, and predates the firm's 1937 absorption into the Distillers Company Limited. Original wax-and-foil capsule intact; exceptional fill level with only a few millimetres of evaporation loss over more than a century.
Description
An early sealed bottle of D. & J. McCallum's "Perfection" Blended Scotch Whisky, bottled in Edinburgh by one of Scotland's most historic blenders. The label, capsule and overall presentation date this bottle to the brand's earliest commercial period, c. 1911 to early 1920s — predating the company's incorporation as D. and J. McCallum Limited in 1925, predating the introduction of the famous "Highland warrior" pictorial label, and predating the firm's 1937 absorption into the Distillers Company Limited (later Diageo).
Brand history. Brothers Duncan and John McCallum opened their inn — known as "The Tattie Pit" — in Edinburgh in 1807. The business grew from inn to spirit merchant, and in 1911 the firm released its now-legendary "Perfection" blend, said to be built around malt from the Cragganmore distillery in Speyside. The brand became hugely popular in Australia and remained in production through the 20th century. The original Edinburgh premises were destroyed in a 1916 German airship bombing raid on Leith.
Dating evidence. The bottle is dated by a combination of label and packaging details. The label reads "D. & J. McCALLUM" without any "Ltd" or "Limited" suffix; the company was incorporated as a Limited company in 1925, after which all labels carry the suffix. This bottle therefore predates 1925. The "Perfection" brand was launched in 1911, so the bottle is post-1911. The label is plain text-only, without the iconic "warlike clan chief with claymore and shield" pictorial trademark that became the brand's hallmark from the 1920s onward. Three offices are listed — Edinburgh, Birmingham & London — and the Sydney office came later. There is no volume or ABV statement on the label (these became mandatory in the UK only from the 1980 Weights & Measures Act). The closure is an original wax-and-foil capsule over a driven cork, typical of pre-1950s Scotch bottling. Together these details point to a bottling between 1911 and approximately 1924, most probably in the 1911 to c.1920 window.
Condition. Dark glass bottle of traditional cylindrical Scotch form. The original wax-and-foil capsule is intact over the driven cork, and the bottle has never been opened. Fill level is exceptional for the age: only a few millimetres of evaporation loss ("the angels' share") over more than a century — clear evidence that the original seal has held effectively without compromise. The paper label is largely complete and clearly legible — "PRODUCE OF SCOTLAND. / D. & J. McCALLUM. / Perfection / EDINBURGH. BIRMINGHAM & LONDON. / BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY." — with an area of paper loss to the left edge characteristic of long storage. No chips or cracks to the glass. Sold as a collector's item; we make no guarantee as to the taste of the liquid contents, which after a century in glass may show oxidation, cork influence or sediment, as is normal for whisky of this age — though the high fill level and intact capsule are the best possible indicators that the contents have been spared the most damaging effects of evaporation and air ingress.
Significance. Pre-1925 sealed bottles of named Scottish blended whisky are scarce. Most surviving early-20th-century examples of "Perfection" on the market are post-1937 (post-DCL acquisition) or miniatures. A full-size, sealed, high-fill bottle from the brand's first decade — with its original wax capsule, original cork seal essentially intact, and largely complete label — sits in a different and considerably more collectible category, of interest to whisky historians, Scottish memorabilia collectors and breweriana / spirituosa specialists.
Dimensions and fill: height __ cm (to be measured); estimated capacity likely Imperial pint or "Reputed Quart" (26⅔ fl oz); fill level high, with only a few millimetres of evaporation loss; weight __ g.
Important notice. This item is sold as a sealed historical collector's bottle, not as a beverage for consumption. The buyer must be of legal drinking age in their country of residence and accepts that the contents of antique sealed bottles cannot be guaranteed for taste, safety or potability. Cross-border shipping of alcoholic bottles is subject to the laws and customs regulations of the destination country; the buyer is responsible for ensuring import is permitted at the destination address.